children

So I know there are a lot of you out there who don’t buy in to the whole ‘Valentines Day’ thing, and I have to agree that it is far too commercialised, red and plastic heart orientated; but there is some good that can come of its celebration. Love. And free chocolates of course! Now what I also know, is that you should show love and appreciation all year through; however what is the harm in having a day where you get the prerogative to just spoil yourself and your other half with some well earned adoration? Maybe you are trying to impress someone you are not yet in a relationship with, but are simply admiring. If your parents then it is vital to spend time as a couple, getting back to basics; Valentines Day provides a non excusable opportunity to reignite the spark! So if you need some inspiration… here is my favourite things to do and gift in my ONE… and ONLY (not now Chesney…) Rockin’ Valentines Guide.

So lets just be honest here… unless you gave birth, became filled with baby, got engaged or married, been offered your dream job or anything of that joyful ilk… 2016 has been a pretty abysmal year for us all here in the UK hasn’t it? I mean Brexit… come on guys! What were you all thinking! Actually… for those who reside in the good ol’ US of A it has been even worse, at least we don’t have a clueless, fame seekingly obnoxious, orange clown leading our country down a dark, dark path of madness. The celebrity deaths and political insanity have meant that this year has been pretty rubbish to say the least. Only one good thing has come of this year, which has led to many good things…

I wanted to start posting roundups of our past months in pictures. So here is the first of my new monthly series: it is a good one to start with as Autumn has so much to offer a Mama (Who doesn’t love walking through a sea of spicy orange pumpkins and indulging in the occasional leaf crunch?!)

Here at Rock and Roses Mama blog I am all about Mama Time, and am determined to promote and inspire Mamas across the globe take some quality time out for themselves and their relationship. If only there was a way we could promote this concept to our bambinos so that they somehow begin to understand our parental plight! Well… look no further than The Large Family; Jill Murphy and Walker Books have served us up a treasure trove of children’s books that hilariously detail the struggles of two parent elephants trying to spend some time with themselves and each other.

If you follow my blog then you will know how important i have always said I think it is that we busy bee Mommas spend little time for ourselves; getting a chance to do things that we wish we had the time for now we have little people running us in circles any in day out. I find the best time is during my little mans afternoon nap, but as those days dwindle and the napless days become more frequent, it is getting more and more difficult to get shit done.

So after the release of my Rockin’ Mamas Christmas Gift Guide, with fervent response, i thought it appropriate that I should also add a Rockin’ Toddlers Christmas Gift Guide to the mix! We have learnt from previous years that we don’t actually have to spend very much on our little man for Christmas as our family and friend circuit is so vast that he gets inundated with presents! We have opted for just one big main ‘tree present’ and then are filling his stocking (which I made for his first Christmas) with little bits and bobs! I have concocted a list of my fave finds this year that can serve as amazing little stocking fillers;

I was so excited that November was here, as it meant that I could get my Rockin’ Mamas Gift Guide live for you lovely peeps to peruse, that I missed out on reflecting on one of my favourite Holiday seasons of all. I have always held a certain penchant for Halloween as I do love a good dress up session (no… Im not talking Ann Summers style!) Since I was a kid I have always loved fancy dress and one of my best friends was half Canadian so held the BEST Halloween parties!

There has been some fervent debate surrounding Luisa Zissman, star of The Apprentice, because she posted pictures of herself sunning on holiday with friends on Instagram after leaving 11 week old and 6 year old daughters at home. The photos sparked some pretty awful judgements from mothers who deemed it absolutely despicable that she would even consider leaving her children to go on a holiday with her friends, especially as one of her children is still so young.

So this week has seen every single on of the household ill at some point and have been busy bees with appointments left right and centre for dentists, doctors, health visitors etc… but on the plus side me and the Mr have now got a luscious whole week off together and are off to Manchester tomorrow for a mini break. Bliss.

We very rarely get a whole day and evening just the three of of and when we do we like to make the most of it; last Sunday we decided to have a family fun day out to Staunton Country Park as recommended by my mama friend over at @mummymkschronicle then a cheeky Sunday lunch at our favourite and recently revamped Green King pub The Castle in the Air.

I have felt relatively calm this week in comparison to previous ones; I am certain that learning to ‘let go’ and chill every once in a while has definitely go something to do with it. Also I have a very rare week off with my Mr coming up so I am contently aware that a nice relaxing break is on the horizon! I have however had to force myself to have a few ‘let it go moments’ to spare me the strain and headache of stressing over minute details in the grand scheme if life…

I don’t know if this is a worldwide pandemic or just where I live… but I have to say that I have some across two complete polar opposites of opinion and judgement of mothers with children; or just children too actually. I feel like I either get old women cooing over my little man or cantankerous men moaning behind me, whilst I struggle to get the pram down a set of steps, about “…all these women with pushchairs…” Is it that they have forgotten that they were children too once upon a time?

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Rock & Roses Mama

Influential enthusiast of awakening women to mama it up without loosing themselves in the process. Being a mama is awesome; so be an awesome role model to your bubbas by finding a balance between them and 'Y O U'